Introducing lGoogle (The L is for Lobbyist)

We have talked on several occasions here at Marketing Pilgrim about Google’s Washington, DCconnections. Some wonder if there is too much Google in the capitol while others just think it’s the normal course of big business. Either way you look at it there is no denying that Google is as much a part of the Beltway Bunch as Democrats and Republicans.

According to the Wall Street Journal Google spent $950,000 in the second quarter on lobbying efforts

The sum tops the $880,000 it spent in the first quarter and represents a 30% increase from the second quarter of 2008, when it spent $730,000.

While Google continues to raise its presence in Washington the money that they spend is still less than Microsoft ($1.9 million in Q2) and AT&T ($3.1 million in Q2).

The range of causes that Google is involved in ‘influencing’ include potential regulation related to online advertising, expanding Internet access and increasing the adoption of cloud-computing technologies. Also in the line of sight of Big G are green initiatives like renewable energy policies and firming up the electrical grid. Of course, the whole electrical grid thing is focused on the environment and not ensuring that Google and its users stay ‘energized’ to continue to make money for the search giant.

In the recent past, Google has placed so many Googlers in Washington, DC that one wonders if paying lobbyists to be there is overkill. I suppose you can never have enough feet on the street when it comes to influencing public policy to the benefit of Google all.

I like how you pointed out that Microsoft is spending twice as much as Google while AT&T is spending 3 times the amount. It helps put things into perspective when folks make a big deal out of their presence. Google is just like other businesses. They’re not an uber giant trying to rule the world.

I mean, really, their mantra is “Don’t be evil.” Would they disappoint us? (Please don’t disappoint us, Google.)

Any major corporation is going to have a lobbyist of some kind. I really don’t see the big deal, I think it’s smart of Google to make sure Microsoft doesn’t put them in some kind of legal stranglehold. With Google branching off into OS’s, I think Google needs to up their lobbyist investments. It’s the only way to secure a fair future.

Personally i would say big business can spend as much as they like lobbying on important policy.. But i would also say that any politician or holder of public office who allowed his support/judgement to be swayed by anything other than the best interests of those he/she is elected to represent should be literally nailed to a wooden cross as being corrupt.

Politicians in both Washington DC and i think even more so here in London seem to suffer a total loss of morals and intelligence once they have been elected to public office.

As for the businesses like Google, Microsoft and AT&T mentioned and i’m sure plenty of others, If they at least had the balls to be honest about why they wanted a particular policy/law (i.e make more money), then they might gain a little more respect from the population at large.. even if only for their apparent honesty.